raikowlreads's reviews
157 reviews

   

Thank you to C.N. Crawford for sending me a copy to review

Nia finds herself in a dangerous situation when her trip to France doesn't go as planned. What was meant to be a fun birthday celebration, became a dangerous fight with the Fey who has occupied half of France. Not only that, but she finds out that she might not be so human as she thinks she is as she starts to find explination for her everyday, that wasn't meant to be so everyday, but magic. Now she must become a spy and train in Avalon Tower, where some trails will test her skills if she truely belongs there. Not only that, but the guy that told her to become a spy, her mentor Raphael turns out to be just her type, whether she likes it or not. The only problem is: Romantic relationships will get you expelled.

This book is absolutely amazing. I loved the fact it plays in different locations and that these locations have their own worldbuilding around it, with some history from the real world mixed in. Seeing how France works with half occupied land, and the other half being free but still trying to keep the other half happy so they won't attack them, was absolutely great.

The missions of the spies were so tense at some times I couldn't stop reading, finding myself delved into this book at 2am, telling myself: "just another chapter and I'll stop." I don't think I've ever read such a good spy book before, and this made me realise even more how much I love this trope. It really made you feel you were a spy in that mission, the amount of detail you pick up and that they have to sink in, to stay aware of everyone's abouts.

The romance was also fantastic, I love the enemies to lovers turning into forbidden romance. It gives still that tension in the relationship, making them act like they're really still enemies for one another. The enemies to lovers part did go quickly, but I think the forbidden romance might have saved the romance plot for me.

Overall this book was written very smoothly, and I wish I didnt drag it out for too long, because C.N. Crawford has definitely gained a new fan due to this book. I love that you don't get infodumped about the situation, past or surroundings, but just enough to take in the environment. To make you feel present in this story, being able to imagine it in your head.

I recommend this book for fans of Leigh Bardugo & Holly Black.

  

Poor Arachne ):

 

Thank you so much to H.M. Heath for providing me with a copy in exchange for a review. 

A new gay fantasy book has hit the market, and as a queer person, I love bringing these books into the spotlight. They're often written by queer authors, and this one is no exception.
 
"The Spy Prince of Basadesh" is H.M. Heath's debut novel and the first in The Jali Throne series. I am honored to have read it, as it is a strong start to the series. The author knows how to build up characters and make them fit within the world. But the world itself felt not as developed as the characters. I, however, do really appreciate the amount of research she has done to keep the book culturally appropriate. 

While the book does include sexual scenes, they are not the main focus. I feel like it established a build up for Arjun and Eldrin's relationship. A good enemies-to-lovers book, which I musn't lie has become one of my favourite tropes. 

The book is a straightforward read, with a primary focus on the romance rather than the extensive background storytelling. The war's details are somewhat sparse, with the king of Zorvyaka being depictted as greedy and ruthless in my eyes.
 
 The ending for the book felt for me short, till I realised it is becoming a series. So maybe that the second book will make me feel better about the ending of book one. 

I just really  dont remember anything about  them, so i dont care enough

 Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for giving me an Advanced Readers copy. This book was high in my expectations, but sadly didn't make it. I DNF'd it around 65% into the book.

I must say the book starts out really strong. Lila not knowing anything about who she is and what trail she is in, in that exact moment. It was engaging to read, and you wanted to know more about it. But as things rolled on, it felt like the story hit some major slow patches. Kinda sucked 'cause I enjoyed the whole trail thing, but everything else just felt like it was dragging or didn't hit the mark.

I do feel like people who are super into crime thrillers will like this, however it sadly didnt for me. 

Thank you to BookSirens & Brian for giving me an advance reader copy. 

We follow the story of both Aisha & Sarah throughout the book. Sarah grapples with a drinking problem and fluctuating mental health, while Aisha navigates the isolating landscape of anxiety during her second year of college. 
Despite their complexities, the girls attempt to uphold their lifelong friendship, weathering numerous challenges along the way.

One commendable aspect of the book is its portrayal of Sarah's battle with alcoholism, which feels authentic and relatable. As someone who has personally struggled with similar issues, I found the depiction of her attitude and the consequences of addiction to be strikingly realistic. The story was sombre, but yet still engaging due to its simple writing style. It gave a good flow to the story.
 I found myself resonating with the characters, which enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

This writing style might not be for everyone, but it's definitely great for someone who isn't ready to read at a high level yet as a non-native speaker. 

So overall the pacing was pretty nice, it wasn't slow but also not too fast either. The characters can feel a bit bland to some, but this could be attributed to the nature of mental illness, which often obscures one's sense of self until they find their way out.

In conclusion, "You've Got the Map Backwards" earns a rating of 4/5 from me.

I am absolutely enjoying this series so much. I have missed Cassidy's and Jacob's story. In hope I'll get book #3 soon!

Paris was definitely a good choice for a haunting story. It kinda makes me want to go there again, and see the catacombs, instead of only wandering around for the art galleries.

  

"He seems happier, lighter, after sharing his story. I feel a little heavier after hearing it, but that's okay. That's how friendship works. You learn to share the weight." - p283.

 

Thank you to Netgalley and RB Media, Recorded Books for giving me an advanced reader copy.

The story is about Venus, who makes money out of brewing illegal love potions. It's a dangerous business, and she gets in a lot of messed up situations after her mother get murdered. When the Grand Witcher, head of her coven, offers Venus the opportunity to avenge her mother's death, she must agree to a difficult demand: create harmful potions to control D.C.'s powerful politicians, all for the sake of justice.

Bethany knows how to write an emotion. The audiobook did a fantastic job of capturing these moments. Lynette R. Freeman knows how to voice act and drag you into the story, not letting you go. Her talent for voice acting truly brought the characters to life.

The Poisons we drink was high in my must-read list for 2024, and I was super honoured to see I got accepted for this copy. It exceeded all my expectations, leaving me eagerly anticipating owning a physical copy once payday rolls around. It took me a while to finish the book, pure because I lacked time, not because the book was slow paced. Furthermore, it was anything but slow paced. There are so many characters that you get to know. Some more likeable than others.

Thank you to Storygraph and Rose Card-Faux for the giveaway! It definitely made me find a gem of a book.

We follow the story through our main character: Zanny Monroe. She's the chosen one for this amazing secret human race called Painters. It's her destiny to save the world and her quiet little life, turns into chaos and a lot of training.

The story is written in first-person and even though I barely read in that set up lately, it was a really nice change. The descriptions, and how Zanny sees the new world she ends up with, were great. I absolutely loved the unique magic system. The particle manipulation classes in the book were fun to read, and I find this magic system also really well-thought-out. I honestly hope we get to see more of this amazing system, because the book was mainly focused on the difficult politics that the Painters have. 

The last half of the book was really well-paced, it was super enjoyable and more in action, compared to the first half. 

Maybe that romance will become an actual thing in the other books of the Way Reader series, because it slightly hints at it. 

Overall, I think I will continue the series and support the author!